NDIS Behaviours of Concern: Supporting the Person Behind the Behaviour

Every behaviour has a reason.

Sometimes the behaviours that other people find difficult to understand are actually the clearest way of communicating that something isn’t right. You might be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, in pain, frustrated, or unable to express what you need.

In the past, these actions were often described as challenging behaviours, but today the NDIS and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission prefer to use the term “behaviours of concern”. This language recognises that the behaviour itself isn’t the problem. Instead, it’s often a sign that additional understanding, support, or environmental changes may be needed.

Rather than asking, “How do we stop this behaviour?”, a person-centred approach asks a different question:

“What is this behaviour communicating, and how can we better support you?”

Understanding this difference is central to modern positive behaviour support.

In this article, we’ll explain what behaviours of concern are, what can cause them, how positive behaviour support works, and the role that behaviour support services, support workers, families, and allied health professionals all play in creating positive outcomes.

What are NDIS behaviours of concern?

Behaviours of concern are behaviours that may place you or other people at risk, reduce your quality of life, or make it more difficult to participate in everyday activities.

These behaviours can look different for everyone and may include:

• Physical aggression, such as hitting or kicking.
• Self-injury, such as biting or head banging.
• Verbal aggression.
• Property damage.
• Repetitive behaviours that create safety concerns.
• Withdrawing from activities or becoming extremely distressed in certain situations.

It’s important to remember that these behaviours don’t define who you are.

Instead, they often reflect an unmet need, difficulty communicating, sensory overload, emotional distress, or changes in your environment. Looking beyond the behaviour allows your support team to better understand what’s happening and identify strategies that genuinely improve your wellbeing.

Why do behaviours of concern happen?

There is rarely one single cause.

Most behaviours of concern develop because several different factors are interacting at the same time. Understanding those factors helps everyone involved provide better support while reducing triggers that may contribute to distress.

Some common contributing factors include:

Communication difficulties

If it’s difficult to express your needs, preferences, discomfort, or emotions, behaviour may become another way of communicating.

Developing new communication skills through speech pathology, assistive technology, visual supports, or alternative communication methods can often reduce frustration while increasing independence.

Sensory processing differences

Many people experience the world differently.

Certain sounds, lights, smells, textures, or busy environments may feel overwhelming and lead someone to display behaviours that communicate discomfort or stress.

Identifying these sensory triggers allows support workers to make simple adjustments that help create a calmer, more structured environment.

Pain, illness, or discomfort

Sometimes behaviour is communicating something physical.

Pain, illness, fatigue, medication changes, or untreated health conditions may all contribute to behaviours of concern, particularly when it’s difficult to explain what’s wrong.

Changes to routine

Unexpected changes can be stressful for anyone.

Changes to support workers, daily routines, living arrangements, school, work, or community activities may increase anxiety and contribute to behaviours of concern.

Providing clear communication, visual schedules, and gradual transitions often helps reduce uncertainty.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Anxiety, trauma, depression, grief, or other emotional challenges can also influence behaviour.

Understanding the whole person, not just the behaviour, is an important part of delivering person-centred support.

Positive behaviour support

Positive behaviour support (PBS) is the approach recommended by the NDIS for supporting behaviours of concern.

Rather than focusing on stopping behaviours, PBS aims to understand why they occur and develop practical strategies that improve quality of life over the long term.

This approach combines evidence-based practice with a person-centred approach, recognising your strengths, preferences, communication style, and individual goals.

Positive behaviour support strategies may include:

• Identifying and reducing triggers.
• Teaching new communication and coping skills.
• Creating predictable routines and structured environments.
• Supporting emotional regulation.
• Increasing participation in meaningful activities.
• Working closely with families, carers, and support workers.

The goal isn’t simply to reduce behaviours of concern. The goal is to help you build confidence, develop new skills, increase independence, and experience positive outcomes across everyday life.

Learn more about PBS in the NDIS Guidelines on Behaviour Support.

What this looks like in practice

Imagine someone who regularly becomes distressed when visiting a busy shopping centre.

Rather than viewing the behaviour as “non-compliance,” their support team takes time to understand what’s happening. Through observation and conversations with the participant and their family, they discover that loud noises, crowded spaces, and unexpected changes to routine create sensory overload.

Instead of avoiding community access altogether, the team develops positive behaviour support strategies that reduce triggers and build confidence over time.

This might include:

• Visiting during quieter times of the day.
• Using noise-cancelling headphones.
• Preparing with visual schedules before leaving home.
• Taking regular breaks in quieter spaces.
• Gradually increasing the amount of time spent in the community.

Over time, these proactive strategies help the participant feel more comfortable, participate more confidently, and achieve greater independence without relying on reactive responses.

This is the foundation of PBS – understanding the reason behind the behaviour and making changes that improve everyday life.

 

Functional behaviour assessments and behaviour support plans

When behaviours of concern are having a significant impact on your safety, wellbeing, or ability to participate in everyday life, you may be referred for specialist behaviour support.

A registered Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner works with you, your family or carers, support workers, and other professionals to better understand what’s happening and identify practical ways to improve your quality of life.

One of the first steps is completing a Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA).

What is a functional behaviour assessment?

A functional behaviour assessment is a structured process that explores why behaviours of concern are occurring.

Rather than focusing only on the behaviour itself, a behaviour support assessment looks at the factors that happen before, during, and after the behaviour. This helps identify patterns, triggers, and unmet needs that may be influencing the behaviour.

As part of a functional behaviour assessment, a behaviour support practitioner may:

• Spend time getting to know you and understanding your goals.
• Speak with your family, carers, support workers, or other people involved in your life.
• Observe different environments and daily routines.
• Identify situations that increase or reduce the likelihood of behaviours of concern.
• Explore communication, sensory, health, and environmental factors.

The information gathered forms the foundation of a comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan that reflects your individual needs, strengths, and preferences.

What is a behaviour support plan?

A Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) is a personalised document developed by a registered Behaviour Support Practitioner.

It outlines practical strategies that everyone involved in your support can use to reduce triggers, teach new skills, and improve your quality of life. Rather than focusing on managing behaviour in the moment, a behaviour support plan provides proactive guidance that helps prevent situations from escalating.

Depending on your circumstances, a practitioner may first develop an interim behaviour support plan to provide immediate guidance while further assessment is completed. This can then be expanded into a more comprehensive behaviour support plan informed by the functional behaviour assessment.

A behaviour support plan may include:

• Strategies for reducing triggers.
• Positive behaviour support strategies for different environments.
• Communication approaches that work best for you.
• Sensory supports and environmental adjustments.
• Skill-building opportunities to increase independence.
• Guidance for support workers, families, and carers to ensure a consistent approach.

As your needs and goals change, your behaviour support plan should also be reviewed and updated to ensure it continues supporting positive outcomes.

The role of support workers in behaviour support

Support workers play an important role in implementing positive behaviour support every day.

While specialist behaviour support practitioners develop assessments and behaviour support plans, support workers help put those strategies into practice during everyday activities at home and in the community.

This might include:

• Recognising early signs that you may be becoming overwhelmed.
• Supporting consistent daily routines.
• Using communication methods that work best for you.
• Encouraging emotional regulation and problem-solving skills.
• Creating calm, predictable environments.
• Recording observations that help your support team understand what’s working well.

Consistency is important. When everyone involved in your support follows the same person centred approach, it becomes easier to reduce triggers, build confidence, and create positive, long-term change.

Restrictive practices and participant safeguards

The goal of positive behaviour support is always to reduce and, wherever possible, eliminate restrictive practices.

Restrictive practices are interventions that limit a person’s rights or freedom of movement to prevent harm. Examples may include physical restraint, environmental restraint, mechanical restraint, chemical restraint, or seclusion.

Because restrictive practices can have a significant impact on a person’s human rights, they are only considered as a last resort when there is an immediate risk of harm and less restrictive options have been exhausted.

Any use of regulated restrictive practices must meet strict legal and clinical requirements.

Under the NDIS, restrictive practices can only be used when they are included in an authorised behaviour support plan developed by an appropriately qualified specialist behaviour support practitioner and are subject to oversight by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

For participants living in Western Australia, additional state authorisation requirements also apply. Regulated restrictive practices must be authorised through the WA Department of Communities‘ approval framework alongside the requirements of the NDIS Commission, providing additional safeguards to protect participant rights.

The long-term goal is never to rely on restrictive practices, but to understand the reasons behind behaviours of concern and develop safer, more effective alternatives that improve quality of life.

Frequently asked questions about behaviours of concern

What is a Behaviour Support Plan?

A behaviour support plan is a personalised plan developed by a registered Behaviour Support Practitioner. It outlines practical, evidence-based strategies that help reduce behaviours of concern, build new skills, and improve your quality of life while supporting everyone involved in your care to respond consistently.

How is behaviour support funded through the NDIS?

If behaviour support is considered reasonable and necessary to help you achieve your goals, funding may be included in your NDIS Plan. This can include assessments, specialist positive behaviour support behaviour support plans, and ongoing support from registered behaviour support practitioners.

Are restrictive practices ever used without approval?

No. Restrictive practices are heavily regulated under Australian law and should only ever be used as a last resort. They require formal authorisation, oversight, and regular review. In Western Australia, additional approval is required through the WA Department of Communities alongside NDIS Commission requirements.

Can behaviours of concern improve over time?

Yes. With the right support, many people experience significant improvements over time. By identifying triggers, developing new communication and coping skills, and providing consistent, person-centred support, behaviours of concern often reduce while independence, participation, and confidence increase.

Final thoughts

Behaviours of concern don’t define who you are.

They are often a form of communication, reflecting an unmet need, a challenging environment, or a barrier that hasn’t yet been understood. By looking beyond the behaviour itself and taking a person centred approach, it’s possible to create supports that are more meaningful, respectful, and effective.

At KCG, we believe the best outcomes come from understanding the whole person. We work alongside you, your family, support workers, and other professionals to deliver compassionate, evidence-based support that focuses on your strengths, goals, and long-term wellbeing.

If you’re navigating changes to your NDIS Plan or want to better understand how behaviour support fits within the broader NDIS framework, you may also find our guide to NDIS changes to be aware of – as a participant and provider helpful.

If you’d like to learn more about how KCG can support you with person-centred disability services, we’d love to talk with you about your goals and how we can help you achieve them. Contact us today or make a referral.